Saginaw Future Initiatives

Saginaw Future works directly with companies on projects, develops initiatives that will stimulate new investment and utilizes existing development tools to help stimulate new investment in Saginaw County. The following are recent projects, new initiatives and development tools that are creating the new economy.

Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Solar Advantage
The Great Lakes Bay Economic Development Partnership (EDP) is a marketing collaboration made up of Saginaw Future, Bay Future, Inc. and Midland Tomorrow. The award winning partnership presents a unified marketing message to help stimulate the region’s solar industry and attract new business investment. The Great Lakes Bay EDP is the one-stop location assistance resource for solar-related companies. www.MiGreatLakesBaySolar.com

• SF and the Great Lakes Bay Economic Development Partnership continues to see success in attracting new solar investment to Saginaw County and the region.
• Regional companies like Dow Corning Corp. and The Dow Chemical Company have made significant investments in solar, from shingles to thin film technology.
• Dow Corning Solar Solutions Applications Center continues to advance its R&D capabilities. The company invested $3.5 million in its Saginaw County research facility that opened in 2008.
• Suniva Inc. is a Georgia-based solar cell manufacturer that plans to invest $250 million in Thomas Township and create 500 new jobs.
• GlobalWatt plans to invest up to $177 million and create 500 jobs to produce solar panel modules.

Medical Technology - Capture potential
Saginaw County is where everything comes together for manufacturers of medical equipment and devices – making it an ideal place to locate or expand your business. It has a smart, talented workforce ready for immediate placement. It’s a major healthcare hub and a source for high-tech raw materials. It’s a prime geographic location served by a great transportation and telecommunications infrastructure. It’s a hotbed of education and research.
www.saginawfuture.com/Medical-Technology.aspx

Michigan's Great Lakes Bay Sites Advantage
SF and the Great Lakes Bay EDP launched www.MiGreatLakesBaySites.com making access to powerful business information research only a mouse-click away. It is a property database that features available industrial, commercial, office and retail properties.

Business Friendly Legislation
Morley Companies Inc. invested $4.5 million in an expansion to attract new business opportunities in Saginaw Township. The project will create 650 new jobs and an additional 260 indirect jobs. The expansion was the first to receive a restructured MEGA credit that included health care benefits in its criteria. SF worked with area legislators to modify the law. The company, which provides data collection and market research, also expects to invest $3 million and create another 500 jobs in 2010.

Nexteer Automotive, formerly Delphi Steering, has committed to retaining 2,400 jobs and new investment of $400 million in Buena Vista. The MEDC provided $70 million MEGA tax incentive over 10 years and the Buena Vista Board of Trustees agreed to transfer existing abatements and approve a new 20-year abatement. A new resolution was passed in order to transfer the abatements.

Government Contracts
The federal government is a multi-billion dollar purchaser of goods and services. States and local governments are also major purchasers of products and services. The Saginaw Future Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) provides no fee assistance to businesses that are interested in tapping this market. The services offered by the Saginaw Future PTAC include bid matching service, market research, specifications and standards, federal acquisition regulations, subcontracting opportunities and much more. The Saginaw Future PTAC assisted 22 companies that won 515 government contracts valued at more than $17 million in 2009.

Corporate Watch Call Program
SF staff members team up with representatives from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to target specific base job providers. Designed to help existing local businesses grow and flourish, SF’s Corporate Watch Call program addresses companies’ concerns and provides assistance to help them succeed. During 2009 alone, SF’s Corporate Watch Call team has met with over 160 companies in Saginaw County. SF learns about the challenges and opportunities facing local companies, and in turn is able to offer solutions and development information.

Community
SF continues to support community growth projects such as the new MBS International Airport Terminal and the nearly complete Saginaw Valley State University College of Nursing and Health Sciences Building. SF also continues to collaborate with the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance to identify and initiate regional projects. Saginaw Future staff members also actively volunteer for a number of civic initiatives, and sit on numerous business related and service organization boards, from the Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! to the International Economic Development Council.